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In robotics projects, many of us face the same problem: we design or collect data in Windows (using tools like Excel, MATLAB, or CAD), but when we want to use that data in ROS on Ubuntu, the transfer is messy. Right now, people usually export files (like CSV/JSON) and copy them manually. Sometimes we use shared folders or third-party tools, but they often break or don’t work in real time. This wastes time and slows down projects.

My idea is to create a ROS Data Bridge – a simple tool that allows real-time data transfer between Windows and Ubuntu.

From Windows :  Send paths, coordinates, or sensor data directly into ROS topics.

From Ubuntu : Send robot logs or sensor readings back to Windows for easy viewing in Excel or MATLAB.

This would save hours of manual work and make the workflow much smoother.

It benefits   1)Students and researchers  as they don't need to waste time on repeated file conversions.

                   2) Engineers for faster testing and debugging.

                   3) Universities/companies – better collaboration across mixed Windows + Ubuntu systems.

This matters to me because as a mechatronics student, I keep switching between Windows and Ubuntu for my projects. It’s frustrating to copy files again and again just to test something in ROS. A direct bridge will make robotics simpler, faster, and more fun to work on.

Votes: 27
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Comments

  • Hi Yatheenrdran, I like your "ROS Data Bridge" idea because it targets a specific and genuinely frustrating workflow problem that many robotics students and engineers face. You’ve clearly identified a valid pain point and proposed a very practical solution that could save a lot of time. While the concept is compelling, you might have overlooked some powerful existing alternatives like MQTT and ZeroMQ that already solve cross-platform communication. The project's real potential may not lie in competing as a niche ROS-only tool, but in becoming an incredibly simple, general-purpose "Windows-Linux Data Pipe" that could also serve the much larger IoT and embedded systems communities facing the exact same problem.
  • This is a great idea! ROS Data Bridge lets Windows and Ubuntu talk to each other in real time, removing the need for manual file transfers.
    It streams data directly between Excel/MATLAB and ROS topics for faster testing and debugging.
    This saves time for students, engineers, and teams, making robotics projects smoother and more efficient
  • Really practical idea! A ROS Data Bridge would save time, cut out repetitive file transfers, and make cross-platform robotics work much smoother for students, engineers, and researchers.
  • Great Idea! I love your idea of how you are making robotics easier for beginners! ROS has always been a difficult interface to work on.
  • Thinking of this idea was so good; doing the project was much easier and smoother, and it saves a lot of time.
  • Very practical idea! A ROS Data Bridge would save huge amounts of time by eliminating manual file transfers and enabling smooth, real-time collaboration between Windows and Ubuntu
  • This is a very practical and well-thought idea. Real-time data bridging between Windows and Ubuntu would definitely reduce the messy manual process of exporting/importing files. It clearly addresses a pain point faced by students, researchers, and engineers working with ROS. I like how you’ve explained both directions of data transfer and highlighted the key beneficiaries. If implemented, this could really speed up robotics workflows and improve collaboration.
  • This is a fantastic idea! Definitely something students, researchers, and engineers would love to use!

    I'm curious how you plan to handle real-time syncing between Windows and Ubuntu without slowing down ROS performance?”
  • As a student working on robotics projects, I face this problem all the time. Designing in Windows and then manually copying files into Ubuntu for ROS is such a time waste. A tool like this would really make experimenting and debugging much easier.
  • This is really useful! A data bridge between Windows and ROS will save so much time and make robotics projects a lot smoother
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